...Thinking in terms of tomorrow

Inland Empire Utilities Agency

A MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT | 2008/2009 ANNUAL REPORT

THE INLAND EMPIRE UTILITIES AGENCY was formed in 1950 to supply supplemental water to the Chino Basin. Today, the agency is involved in recycled water distribution, compost, renewable power generation from solar and methane gas, water conservation and water desalination.

IEUA FOCUSES ON SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

Sustainability is a top priority at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency. “Generally, most wastewater utilities view themselves as primarily in the business of disposing of and treating waste from wastewater plants,” said IEUA Board President Terry Catlin. “Instead, IEUA views its business as manufacturing three products: producing high quality recycled water to help drought-proof our service area; converting biosolids into high quality compost to ensure healthy soils; and renewable energy through methane gas and solar generation facilities.”

DEVELOPING NEW RECYCLED WATER IS A KEY PART OF IEUA’S MISSION

IEUA’s four wastewater facilities currently produce about 60 million gallons of recycled water each day that can be used for a variety of non drinking applications including irrigation, industrial use, and recharging local drinking water aquifers. “Recycled water is the only new signifi cant water supply we

have,” explains IEUA Board Member John L. Anderson. Over the past 5 years, IEUA and its local water providers have invested in

new water infrastructure, including a 75-mile recycled water pipeline distribution system that delivers recycled water from its wastewater recycling

plants to its customers. “Every month we connect new parks, golf courses, and schools to recycled water,” said Anderson.

According to IEUA Vice-President Angel Santiago, who represents the Agency on the Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors, water recycling is more important than ever. “By investing in recycled water to reduce our demand on

IEUA award-winning, energy-effi cient headquarters

2008/2009 ANNUAL REPORT

Inland Empire Utilities Agency leading the waybeing water smart in the Chino Basin

expensive imported water, IEUA and its local water agencies are not only saving money, we are helping to drought-proof our region.”

“Recycled water is clean, safe, and 100% water conservation,” added Anderson.

At a time when our water supply is in question, IEUA is taking the proper steps to fi nd answers. Plans are underway for a $40 million expansion of IEUA’s

recycled water system into its northern service area. “These projects will help drought-proof the cities of Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga by providing over 10,000 acre-feet of water each year. That is enough water for about

20,000 homes!” said Santiago.

“IEUA partnered with the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, to construct the fi rst of its kind, a state-of-the-art enclosed compost manufacturing facility,” commented IEUA Secretary/Treasurer Michael Camacho. “The Inland Empire Regional Composting Facility produces exceptional quality compost that is good for soil in an environmentally sensitive manner. It also represent a less expensive and more reliable solution to disposal of our region’s organic material rather than costly, long distance

trucking; therefore saving taxpayers’ money,” continued Camacho.

IEUA IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A BETTER ENVIRONMENT BY EXAMPLE AND HAS BEEN LEADING THE WAY IN GREEN TECHNOLOGIES

IEUA is developing cost-effective and reliable renewable energy sources through green power technologies such as solar panels and biogas (methane) fuels.

On April 3, 2009 IEUA dedicated its $25-million solar-power system that has been operating since December 2008. The 2.5 megawatt, photovoltaic solar system, located at three of IEUA’s wastewater plant sites and 1 megawatt of solar energy at the Inland Empire Regional Composting Facility, provides 10 percent of the total electrical power needed for IEUA’s facilities.

“Since the California electricity deregulation crisis in 2001, IEUA’s Board of Directors’ vision has been to maximize the use of renewable energy,” said IEUA Board Member Gene Koopman. The solar-panel projects were completed in six months through a ‘power purchase agreement’ with SunPower whereby IEUA buys the electricity produced at a discount from our electric utility, Southern California Edison.

In the fi rst year, IEUA will save about $300,000 and this savings will increase each year in the future. “The 3.5 megawatts of clean solar power generation will reduce the single largest component of IEUA’s operating budget - electrical costs. In addition, IEUA’s Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) headquarter buildings has a small solar system. The headquarters is extremely energy effi cient — using less than 20 percent of the electricity of a normal offi ce building of similar size,” added Koopman.

MANAGING THE CHINO GROUNDWATER BASIN

The Chino Basin residents depend on our groundwater wells for about 65% of our drinking water needs. IEUA, Chino Basin Water Conservation District, Chino Basin Watermaster, and the San Bernardino County Flood Control District are working together to enhance our local water supplies by improving

Wastewater facilities produce recycled water that can be used for irrigation of parks and golf courses as well as for industrial use.

The state-of-the-art composting facility provides a less expensive and more reliable solution for disposal of our region’s organic material.

The newly constructed solar power system will save IEUA more than $300,000 per year in electrical costs.

Terry CatlinPresident

Upland & Monclair

Michael CamachoSecretary/TreasurerRancho Cucamonga

John L. AndersonDirector

Chino & Chino Hills

Gene Koopman DirectorOntario

Angel SantiagoVice President

Fontana, portions ofRialto & Bloomington

the percolation and recharge into our aquifers, ensuring there is emergency storage, by increasing our ability to recharge storm water, local recycled water and imported water into the Chino Groundwater Basin. “Over the past year we have been able to recharge our basins with over 10,000 acre feet of “new” water - water that would have previously been lost to the Pacifi c Ocean,” commented Camacho. “One acre foot of water is enough water for two average families in and around the home for one year.” Another innovative project, The Chino Basin Desalination Program provides 24 million gallons per day of high quality drinking water.

SAVING WATER...IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO

For the fi rst time in 18 years Southern California consumers and businesses will face mandatory water conservation restrictions this summer. For IEUA there is an immediate call to all households and businesses to conserve. “We need residents and business owners to recognize the severity of the drought that is affecting us,” said Catlin. “It is time to take shorter showers, fi x our leaky faucets, and turn off our sprinklers when it is raining outside. Did you know, watering your lawn only when it needs it

can add up to major savings? Watering only in the early morning hours can save up to 25 gallons of water each time you water.”

The Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, which opened to the public in 2007, provides a hands-on opportunity for the community to experience the importance of constructed wetlands in the protection of our watershed. The Park improves water quality, fl ood control, habitat restoration, recreation, water conservation and public education. The Santa Ana Watershed Association (SAWA) is the Agency’s partner for park tours and education programs.

Since 2005, IEUA has reached over 17,000 students with its award winning Garden In Every School® program. The purpose of the Garden in Every School® program is to educate the school family and community about wise-water usage through a garden landscape, featuring drought-tolerant plants and effi cient irrigation methods.

In partnership with our cities, community groups, schools and other water agencies, IEUA will continue to ensure that our communities will have high quality, reliable local water supplies with very competitive water and sewer rates.

Inland Empire Utilities Agency59 Years of Excellence in Water Resources and Quality Management

6075 Kimball Avenue Chino, CA 91708

909 993-1600www.ieua.org

Grantors have aided in many of IEUA’s projects.

These include:

California Integrated Waste Management Board, U.S. Department of Energy, CEC Pier grant, Cali-fornia Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Energy Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western United Resource Development, Inc., California Public Utilities Commission through Southern California Gas Company Self Genera-tion Incentive Program, California Solar Initiative Southern California Edison, State Water Resources Control Board, U.S. Department Of Interior- Bureau of Reclamation , Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, California Department of Water Resources, and WateReuse Foundation.